Prisons Sentencing

**FILE** An inmate stands at his cell door Wednesday, Nov 4, 2009 at the maximum security facility at the Arizona State Prison in Florence, Ariz. Arizona’s budget troubles could prompt lawmakers to seriously consider changing criminal sentencing laws to reduce or slow the growth of the state’s prison population, two legislators said Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010. One said a fear of being labeled soft on crime has kept the Legislature from taking up the issue, but he and another said that could change due to steady increases in prison costs at a time when the state is trying to close big budget shortfalls. (AP Photo/Matt York)